A Secondhand, DIY, Plastic-Free Wedding
Feeling trapped in plastic, much like this poor couple, I came to a new stance for Marc’s and my wedding (and sanity).
Somehow, when I Googled “Plastic-free wedding”, I found nothing, though I figured all the overlay of eco-concern and weddings would naturally have had a blog or something named this.
Anyhow, I am not going the route of creating a specific website and blog to this specific topic, but you will find posts regarding how I try to make my upcoming wedding friendlier to the Earth and our future. My first vow is to make my wedding as plastic-free as possible.
I have already been weighing the disposable plateware versus china rental conundrum. I think I am within a week’s decision on that one. How about everything else though?
The wedding industry (sometimes referred to as the WIC – Wedding Industrial Complex) is a complete craphole for useless, disposable, stuffs. Favors, decorations, hair goodies, foods, clothing, invitations, programs, and so much more. In fact, it feels that with each year, new crappy disposable things get tacked on to a new bride’s “must-have” list.
Like Save-the-Date cards (sadly referred to as STDs). Those used not to be at all. Now, not only do many brides feel they are mandatory, but the new thing is Save-the-Date magnets. I have received three from friends… and while they are actually cute, it feels weird to leave magnets of all my coupled friends on my fridge for years to come.
We are just bypassing wedding STDs completely. *chuckles*
As I perused the big box chain store for photo album supplies, I was tempted to buy a stock of these $2 (from $7) decorative pails. Then I thought… “Wait! I have not decided on a decoration vision yet. I have no idea what centerpiece I will create. You cannot buy stuff without vision or purpose!” Then I also thought about how these made-in-China pails only contribute to so many of the very issues I rail against in life. So I walked away.
I also have a friend getting married next year who has generously offered to pass all of her wedding decorations to me.
I may check out a few things, and I like that many of her items are received from previous brides (many uses for the wreaths, candle holders, etc… oh, how the WIC would disapprove). Most of these items simply are not my style. Probably, in part, because they all originally came from the chain crafts store, meaning it all came as cheap (deplorable condition) labor and cheap-quality stuff from China.
I envision as much as possible being made from natural resources. American manufactured. Or handmade.
There will be hundreds of trips to thrift stores in the next six months as I try to find all that I want.
There will be many hours of crafting items myself.
There will be no time at all dwelling among the aisles of plastic crap in the chain craft store. Seriously… I want to throw up in the plastic-encased and tulle-enshrouded hell.
That is right… all the generic, white plastic wedding crap you could ever need, along with all your white ruffly ring pillows, your hot pink bachelorette sashes, and white dove/wedding bells/wedding ring themed junk you can dream of.
Barf…
Am I suggesting we will have the greenest wedding ever? One that will be completely free of all traces of plastic?
Hell no. I am a dreamer, but I also call reality. Reality is, I am not competing for the label of a “green wedding”. I am only a girl, engaged to a boy, both of whom wish for the simplest, sweetest, and socially-aware celebration of our love that we can create within our constraints.
So, Wedding, do I take you for the opportunity to decorate lovingly and consciously with items that are ceremonial and lovely but still in line with who we are and what is important to us?
I do.
Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue
Love it! So much that I just tweeted a link to this post. So well put!